Mining machine



Mdrch 13, 1928.

, L 1 1,662,789 M. P. HOLMES MINING MACHINE Original Filed July 18, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1- Marh13,'192's;f 1 1,662,789

NL P.+HDLB4E$ MINING MACHINE Original Filed July 18, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 a filo/wisp. 80 by M March 13, 1928.

: 1,662,789 M. P. HOLMES M. P. HOLMES MINING MACHINE March 13, 1928.. 1,662,789

Original Filed July 18, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES MORRIS P. HOLMES, 0F CLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO SI TLLIV MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS.

I MINING MACHINEQ Application filed July 18, 921, Serial No. 485,690. Renewed June 16,1927.

This invention relates to mining machines of the type employed for cutting kerfs in a mine face.

"It has for an object to provide a convertible machine which is readily adaptable to either the longwall or the room and pillar method of mining, and which may be operated as either an undercutter, to insert a kerf in the mine face at or near the bottom thereof, or as an overcutter, to insert a kerf at anelevation above the bottom. Another object of the invention is to provide improved mining. machine. feeding means. wherein a material reduction in the number of necessary parts is combinedwith an increased range of adaptability for different classes of work. A further object of the in vention is to provide improved power transmitting mechanism for actuating the feed operating member carried bya'mining'machine, which mechanism is of relatively simple and compactconstruction while providing for an extremely convenient and accurate control capable of producing a wide range of movements. A'still further object of the invention is to provide improved means whereby the feed actuatingmechanism of a mining machine maybe employed to furnish the power for propelling the truck on which'said machine is transported from'place to place The foregoing and other. objects'of the invention, together with means whereby the same may be carried into effect, will best be understood from the following descrition of, one form or embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: v

1 is aside elevation, partially broken away,of the complete machine.

r Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of one of the rear corners of the machine, showing one of the rotatable guide members for the flexible feeding member and means for mounting the same. a I

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 55 of Fig. i g

Fig. Bis a longitudinal vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of the rear end of the machine. taken substantially on the line 66 of Figs. 2 and 7. V

Fig. 7 is a transverse section' takensub stantially on the 1ine,7 .7of Fig.1).

on the line 88 of Fig.2.

cal section of the head, taken substantially Fig. 9 is a similar section partially in elevation, on a smaller scale, showing the head inverted to adapt the machinefor overcutting. Figs. 1 0 andll'are diagrammatic plan views illustrating the operation of the machine in room and pillar work. 7

Figs. 12 and 13 are similar views illustrating the use of the apparatus as a longwall machine. a

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic side elevation illustrating the' us'e' of the machine in overcutting. r Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic rear elevation illustrating the arrangement of the flexible feeding member and the guide members for feeding the machine in opposite directions.

Fig. 16v is a diagrammatic plan-view of' the; rear end of the'machine, illustrating the operation of loading the machine upon a truck. 'i f Fig. 17 is a simplified partial plan view showing the machine mounted upon the propelling the latter. r r Referring to F gthe "machine illustrated therein comprises a frame or casing 25 slid'ing upon its'bottom over the mine bottom, herein upon a shoe 26, said frame or casing'having at its forward end a hollow head 27 carrying a swinging or pivotally mounted cutter bar 28 provided with the usual'cutter chain 29. The Shoe 26 extends beyond the casing 25 and beneath the head 27 so as 'to provide a base for the machine throughout. substantially its entire length.

The frame or 'casing'25 is formed at its forward end with a substantially circular rib or projection 40 (Fig; 8) which is received in a correspondingly shaped'op'ening in the rear wall of the head 27 whereby the rear,

end of said head is seated on and supported by said projection. Within the casing 25 is a motor (not shown) of any suitable type for supplying the necessary power for operating thecutter chain 29 as well as the feeding mechanism hereinafter described for moving the machine across the faceto cause said cutter. chain to cut a kerf therein. The shaft 39 ofsaid motor extends coaxially through theiprojection 10 and into the rear end of thehead 27 so as to cooperate with mechanism hereinafter described within said head. The cutter bar 28 is eccentrically disposed with respect to the common axis said boss.

of the projection. 40 and motor shaft 39, while the head 27 is invertible about saidaxis and is detachably secured to the forward end of the casing 25 by means permitting the attachment of said head to said casing either side up, that is to say, either in the undercutting positlonshown in Figs.

-li and8,,with the cutter bar at: the. bottom, or in the overcutting position shown in Figs.

9 and 514 and indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, with the cutter; bar at the top. The securing means, as herein shown, comprise vertical flanges on the head 27 adapted to bev attached tothe forward end of the casing by bolts or screws 31 symmetrically arranged with respect to the axis of the motor shaft 39 and projection 40.

v For convenience of description, the undercutting positionof the head will be assumed as the normal position thereof, and the relative locat on. of the several parts will be described with reference to this position. i

Referring particularly to Fig. 8, the head 27 isdivided on a substantially horizontal 'planeintoupper and lower sections 49 and 50,

, flange 34 disposed concentric with the boss 32, while the arm '33 is providedwith a vertically disposed flange 35 formed with an car 36, said arm 33 and ear 36 having alined openings adapted in different angular positioris of said. arm and cutter bar to register with openings 37in the flange 34 and to receive a locking pin 38,whereby said arm and cutter bar may be locked in any position'of angular adjustment. r

\Vithin the head 27 is located mechanism driven fromv the motor shaft 39 for actuating the cutter chain 29, said mechanism being of such acharacter'astobe operatively engageablewith said. motor shaft in either position of said head. As herein shown, the motor shaft 39 has keyedthereto at its for ward end, and held in place by means of a screw 52, aqbevcl pinion 41 which meshes with a bevel gear 42 having a hub rotatably mounted on a sleeve 43 splined to an upright shaft 44 and normally secured thereto, as by a screw 53. The shaft 44 is journaled at its lower end in an antifriction step bearing 45 carried by the lower head section 50,

'while the sleeve 43 thereon is journaled at its upper end in an antifriction step bearing 46 carried by a cover plate 47 secured to the upper headsectio'n 49 by cap screws 48 and closing a circular opening'in said head sec tion disposed coaxially with the shaft 44. By removing the cap screws 48, the cover plate 47 may be removed, thereby permitting adjustmentor removal of the bearing 46 and sleeve 43 without disconnecting the head sec tions.

The gear 42 maybe operatively connected with the sleeve 43, to rotate said sleeve and the shaft 44 to which it is secured, V

head section 49' and providedhexteriorly.

thereof with a clutch controlling lever 58 (Figs. land 2)." The shaft 44 is provided below the gear 42 with a preferably integral pinion 59 which meshes with-a gear 60 havinga hub journaljed in an antifriction bearing 61 in thenpper end of the boss or sleeve portion 32. The gear 60 is connected by longitudinal bolts 62 to a coupling ring 63havingoppositely projecting teeth 64 and 65 adapted to engage respectively the hub of said gear and the hub of the sprocket 66 for'actuating the cutter chain 29, said cutterchain sprocket being also connected by longitudinally extending bolts 67 with said coupling ring 63 and having its hub mounted in an antifriction bearing 68 car ried by the lower end of the boss or sleeve H portion 32. Interposed between the bearings 1 61 and 68', and surrounding the coupling ring 63, is asplit bushing ring 69 engaging an internaljflange 70 on the sleeve or boss 32. .l/Vith this construction it willfbe seen that,

byremoving the bolts 62 or 67, either the gear 60 or'the cutter chain sprocket 66 may be removed independently ofthe other and without disturbing the mounting of the other.

Extending coaxially through the gear 60 and cutter chain sprocket 66 is a vertical stud 71 having at its lower end an axially disposed threaded socket 76 to receive the upper end of a threaded stud 72 carried by a cover plate or disk 73 seatedin a coaxially disposed opening in the shoe 26 and secured therein by a clamping plate or disk 74 attached to saidcover plate by cap screws 75, said plate 74 having a boss 81 on which the lower end of the stud 71 is seated. At itsopposite or upper end', the stud 71 is formed with a second axially disposed threaded socket 77 similar to the socket 76 and engagedby a threaded stud or screw 7 8 carried by a cover plate 7 9 secured, as by ea screws 80, to the upper head section 49 an normally closinga circular opening therein which is coaxially disposed with respect to the stud 71. The upper head section 49 is recessed adjacent the cover plates '47 and 79 to permit. saidl'plates, together with the heads of the screws 48, 78 and 80 to be positioned substantially flush with or slightly within the upper surface of said head sectiOn; g i

The parts being in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 8, thereby adapting the machine for undercutting, in order to invert the head 27 so as to arrange the machine for overcut ting, shown in Figs. 9 and 14 and as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 1, the screws 78 and 80 and the cover plate 79 are first removed, thereby permitting the stud 71 to be unscrewed from the stud 72. and withdrawn through the top of the head. The cap screws 75 are then removed to disconnect the plates 73 and 7 4, the plate 73 with its attached stud 72 being withdrawn from the bottom of the machine. he cover plate 79 and screws 80 are then replaced, the bolt-s 31 removed, the head disengaged from the projection and inverted (causing the cover plate 79 to be seated and supported on the boss 81 of the plate 74), and the bolts 31 replaced in order to secure the head 27 to the casing 25 in its new position. The cover plate 73 is then replaced and secured to the plate 74 by a cap screw 75, causing the stud 72 carried by said cover plate to project upwardly through the plates 74 and 79, whereupon the stud 71 may be re-inserted and reengaged at its lower end with said stud 72 and the screw 78 1nserted into the socket'7 7,

the parts then being in the overcutting position shown in Figs. 9 and 14.

It will be observed that'the gear and cutter chain sprocket 66 are journaled in the head by means of the bearings 61 and 68, clutch ring 63, and bolts 62 and'67 independently of the stud 71,. so that the removal of said "stud does not disturb the mounting of these parts or the cooperative connection of the gear 60 with the sprocket 66 and pinion 59, the mechanism being carried by and inverted with the head as a unit. The function of the stud 711s to assist in centering and positioning the parts'and,

ticularly when the head is in the undercutting position shown in Fig. 8. When the head is in the overcutting position shown in Fig. 9, the cover plate 79 engages the boss 81 on the plate 74 as above explained, but

the stud 71 serves as means for. connecting these parts and holding the same against lateral movement. V V p I During the cutting operation the machine shown as located at the rear end ofthe machine and disposed with its axis horizontal as in my prior application for Letters Patent, filed June'5, 1919, Ser. No. 301,917. J i

In accordance with the present invention,

and as shown in Fig. 6,the feed operating.

member 85 is formed with thehub 89 (Fig. 6) which is rotatably mounted-in antifriction bearings 90 and 90carried respectively by ahorizontal, longitudinallydisposed eylindrical boss or sleeve'portion 91 projecting rearwardly from the casing 25 and 'in a bracket or keeper 148 (Figs. 2-, 3, and 6) secured to the rear end of said casing. In addition to the guide members 83 and 34, and as in my prior application for Letters Patent, filed December 26, 1919, Ser. No. 347,571, the machine is herein shown provided atits forward end withan auxiliary rotary guide member 86(Fig2) carried by a bracket 87 detachab'ly secured to the head 27 by a pin or bolt 88 engaging oneof the openi'ngs'37 in the flange 34. The rotary feed operating member 'is actuated from the-motor bysuitable connections providing a reversible variable speed drivefor "said feed operatingmember. As herein shown, said'connections are as followszl Referring to Fig. 6,.the motor shaft 39 is provided at its rear end I with a preferably integra l'pinion 92 which meshes with an internal gear 93 'rotatably mounted on a longitudinally disposed main transmission shaft 94 journaled at its ends in antifriction bearings 95 and96 carried by suitably disposedportions of the machine frame or case ing 25. The gear 93 adapted to be connected to the shaft 94by means of a friction clutch, herein shown sent the multiple disk type comprising a series of clutch disks 97, alternate disks bein g connected respectively with said gear 93 and with a sleeve 98 splined to the shaft94 and longitudinally movable thereon, to engage or disengage the clutch,bymeans of a clutch fork 99 carried by a transverse rock shaft 100 provided with an arm 101 which is connected to an operating rod 102 (see Flgs. 3 and 7), extend ing to the rear of the machine and pro vided with a suitable operating handle. The clutch disks 97, in addition to constituting means for operatively connecting and disconnecting the gear 93- and shaft 94, s'erve'as a yielding transmission element whereby the power transmitted from the. motor shaft 39 to the feed operating member 35, through the positive driving connections hereinafter descr1bed,'may'be llUlltQCli, in order to prevent excessive strain upon the mechanism in the event of abnormal resistance to the machine, as when an unusually hard spot or other obstruction is unexpectedly encountered in cutting. Rotation of the shaft 94 istransmitted to the feed operating member 85 by means of reversible variable speed transmission the axis of the shaft 94 and mounted in antifriction bearings 104 carried by suitably disposed portions of the machine frame or casing, asecond countershaft 105 alined with the countershaft 103 and journaled in antifriction bearings 106 carried bya boss or sleeve portion 135 formed on said frame or casing, means for operatively connecting the countershaft 105 with the feed operat ing member for rotatingthe latter, means for operatively connecting the countershaft 103 with. the main transmission shaft 94 whereby said countershaft may berotated at relatively higher relatively low speed with respect to the speed of rotation of said shaft 94, and means for operatively connecting the countershaft with the. countershaft 103 whereby said countershaft 105 may be driven in the same direction and at the same speed as the countershaft 103 or in the opposite direction at a lowerspeed. As herein shown, these connections are as follows:

For operatively connecting the countershaft 105 with the feedoperating member 85, whereby the latter is rotated by the former, said countershaft 105 is provided at its rear end with a preferably integral pinion 107 which meshes with an internal gear 108securedto or formed integralwith the feed operating member 85 and extending through a circular opening in the rear end of the casing 25 about the sleeve or boss 91.

For operatively connecting-the shaft 94 with the countershaft 103 in order to'rotate the latter-at a variable speed, the following mechanism is herein shown. The clutch sleeve 98 is provided with a preferably in- .tegral pinion 109 which meshes with a gear 110 having a hub 111 which is keyed to a sleeve 112 rotatably mounted on thecountershaft 103. Fast upon the shaft 94 is a pinion 114 smaller than the pinion 109 and meshing with a'gear 115which is larger than the gear 110, said gear 115 having a hub 116 keyed to a sleeve 117 also rotatably mounted on the countershaft 103.; The sleeves 112 and 117 may be alternatively connected with the countershaft 103 to cause said countershaft tobe driven from the shaft 94 at a relatively high speed through the pinion 109 and gear 110 or at a relatively low speed through the pinion 114 and gear 115by means of a clutch hub 113 splined to the countershaft 103 between the sleeves 1 12 thereon to engage complementary clutch teeth'foi-mcd on said sleeves, respectively.

To the above ends, the clutch hub 113 is operated and controlled by a clutch fork 118 carried by a transverse rock shaft 119 pro vided with an arm 120 connected with an operating rod 121 extending to the rear'end of the machine.

In the construction shown, the countershafts 103 and 105 may be directly connected for rotation'in unison by means of a clutch hub 122 splinedto the countershaft 105' and longitudinally movable thereon in one direction from the neutral position shown in Fig;

6 ,to cause internal clutch teeth formed thereon to cooperate with the teeth of a pinion 123 fast upon the end of the countershaft 103. The clutch hub 122 is operated by a clutch fork 124 carried by a transverse rock shaft 125 provided with an arm 126 connected with an operating rod 127 extending to the rear end of the machine.

'For operatively connecting the countershafts 103 and 105 to causethe latter to be driven in a direction opposite to the direc tion of rotation of the former and at a reduced speed, the following mechanism is herein shown. The pinion 123 meshes with a gear 128 (Fig. 7) carried by a stud 129 suitably supported in the machine frame,

said gear 128 having connected thereto for rotation therewith a pinion 130 meshing with a gear 131 (see also Fig.6) keyed to a sleeve 132 rotatably=mounted on the shaft 94. p The sleeve 132 carries a preferably integral pinion 133Iwhich meshes with a gear 134 rotatablymounted on the countershaft 105 and on the boss or sleeve portion 135 in which the bearings 106 are carried. The gear 134 is provided with a hub formed with clutch teeth or elements 136 adapted to be en gaged by the clutch teeth or elements onthe clutch hub 132 when. the latter is moved from its neutral position in the direction opposite to that in which it is moved to en- 7 gage the pinion 123, as above described. As will now be seen, whenthe clutchhub 122 is moved into the position to cause the clutch elements thereon to engage the clutch elements 136, the gear 134 will be operatively connected with the countershaft 105, thereby causing said countershaft to be driven ing 123, 128, 130, 131, 133 and 134, in a refrom the countershaft103, through the gear- As in my application for Letters Patent,

filed June 18,1921, SerQNo. 478,473, 'the mechanism for actuating the feed operating member is also employed to operate mech anism for propelling the truck upon which the machine is transported from place to place about the mine. As shown in Fig. 17, said truck comprises a'body 137 mounted on wheels 138 whose axles are connected by chain and sprocket gearing 139 with a propelling shaft 140 extending transversely of the truck body and suitably journaled there in. The shaft 140 isprovided intermediate its ends with a bevel gear 141 which meshes with a bevel gear 142 suitably-journaled-011 said truck body to rotate about a longitudinal axis. The gear 142 is-connected by a universal joint 143 witha coupling member 144. In accordance with the present invention, the coupling member 144 is provided with suitable clutch elements adapted to cooperate with complementary clutch elements on a head 145 formed on a'shaft 146 (Fig. 6)

passing axially through the hub 89 of the feed operating member 85 and journaled therein, said shaft having keyed thereto at its inner end a gear '147 meshing with the pinion 107, whereby the truck propelling head 145 is actuated from the countershaft 105. The head 145 is coaxially disposed with respect to the feed operating member 85, is substantially housed in the bracket 148, and is journaled inthe bearing carried by the latter. 3

The rotary guide members 83 and 84, which are disposed upon vertical axes, are arranged substantially at the upper and lower rear corners of the frame or casing 25 and are adapted to be received in recesses 150 formed in said frame or casing at these points. Said members, in the construction shown, are mounted on'studs 151 each of which is supported by anarm 152 (see pare ticularlyFigs. 3, 4, and 5) pivoted to an ear.

or lug 153 projecting horizontally from the frame or casing 25, whereby said guide mein bers may be swung outwardly into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 401 inwardly into the recesses'150 as shown in broken lines in the same figure. The inward and outward positions of said guide members are fixed by stop lugs 154 and 155 adapted to engage the arms 152 when the latter are swung inwardly or outwardly, respectively. I 1

fRecesses' 150 and supporting lugs or ears 153 are symmetrically disposed at 'both' sides of the rearv end of the'machine',- and a single pair of guide members 83 and 84 is employed, said guide members being detachably secured to the ears or lugs 153 and being transferable or interchangeable from one side of the machine to the other in accordance with the conditions of use. To this end, in the embodiment of the invention shown, the following construction is pro vided. The arms 152 are provided with tele scoping studs 160 (see particularly Fig. 5) which are rotatably receivedin alined openings 161 in the earsor lugs 153, oneof said studs having a preferably reduced end portion 162 which is received in a coaxia'lly disposed socket 163 in the other and is detachably retained therein: by a set screw 164 which engages an'annular groove 165 in said end portion 162. By the foregoing construction itwill be seen that the arms 152 will be retained in position on the ears or lugs 153 but may swing independently thereon, while, by removing the set screw 164, the studs-160 may be separated and the arms 152 with the guide 'members 83 and 84 carried thereby detached'a'nd transferred to theopposite side I of the machine where they may be re-attached in the same manner and in the same relative positions. I

By reference to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be observed-that by reason of the horizontal 111g member 85 the portion or groove of this member which receives the flexible feeddisposition of the axis of the feed-operating member 82 is'disposed substantially in ating member being of a diameter substantially equal to the vertical distance between said planes. Moreover the housing of said members 83 and 84 in the recesses 150 permitsthe guide portions or grooves of said members to be tangential to avertical plane passing through the'guide-portion or groove of the feed"operatingmember 85, at the inner side of said plane, notwithsta'ndin the proximity of said. plane to the rearen of the machine, 'while the movablemounting of-saidguide member's permits them to be swung outwardlyfacross said plane into positions tangential thereto at the outer. side thereof. It will, therefore, be seen that the portionsof the flexible feeding member 82 extending between thje'feed operating'member 85 and the guide members 83 and 84 may lie substantially in a common vertical plane with the guide portion'or surface of said feed operating member, so as to permit said flexible feeding member to run smoothly.

It will also be seen that the flexible feeding ible member upon the machine, as will here- (which at this time is housed in its recess inafterbe apparent. I

In addition to the regular rotary guide members '83 and 84 and the auxiliary guide member 86, there is preferably provided a second auxiliary guide member 17 5 (see Fig. 16) which is rotatably mounted on one end of an arm 176 having at its opposite end a hook 17 8 adapted for detachable engagement with the opening 161 in any one of the ears or lugs 153, whereby said arm is adapted to swing freely on said lug. The auxiliary guide member 175 may be conveniently employed for the purpose of loading the machine upon the truck, the flexible feeding 'member 82 being at this time, for example,

passed about the outer side of the guide 'member 84, thence aboutthe feed operating member 85, thence about the inner side of I the guide member 83 to the outer side thereof, and finally about the auxiliary guide member 17 5 from which it may be led to the usual chain fork or other suitable fixed abutment 180 on the truck body 137.

As is usual in machines ofthis type, the cutter bar 28 may be swung about its axis on the head 27, herein the axis of the boss or sleeve portion 32, by engagement of the flexible feeding member 82 with the flange 35, or with a suitable hook attachedithereto, said flexible feeding member passing from said flange about the guide members 83 and 84 and feed operating member 85 which is actuated to draw upon. the flexible feeding member and swing said bar. For room and pillar work, the cutter bar 28 is swung into its longitudinal position, as shown for example in Fig. 10, and is locked in such position by the pin 38. With the bar in this position, the machine is then disposed and connected as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 10 and sumped into the face by an operation of the feed operating member to draw in the portionof the feed chain extending between the machine and the far rib, the.

speed being varied by adjusting the gearing to give either a fast feed or slow feed as the cutting conditions require and the feed further being subjected to control when desired by slipping the friction. During this sumping cut, the other extremity of the feed chain may be left slack or connected to a jack at the opposite rib as desired. After this sumping cut, in order to out toward the left,

as shown in Fig. 10, the guide members 83, 84, and 86 are disposed at the left side of the machine, or the direction toward which the cut is to be made. and the flexible feeding member 82 is anchored at its forward end at the left end of the mine face, passes about the inner side of the guide member 86, thence longitudinally of the machine at the left or forward side thereof, thence (for undercutting and as shown in Fig. 10) about the outer side of the guide member 84 150), thence about the feed operating member 85,and finally about theinner side of the guide member'83 (which at this time is swung outwardly) whencesaid flexible feed ing memberextends toward the right to an anchor at the right hand rib in a usual man ner. In order .tosumpand out toward the right, as shown in Fig. 11, the guide members and flexible feeding member will be oppositely arranged, as'shown in said figure andv as will be understood without further explanation.

- The use of the machine in longwall cutting is illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13. For this purpose the cutter bar 28 is swung or sumped I from. itslongitudinal position intoa position transverse to the machine at one side or the other thereof in accordance with the direction of cut, as willbe familiar to those skilled inthe art, the bar being swung about its pivot by connecting one end of the feed chain to the member 35 and actuating the feed operatingmemberto draw in the feed chain at the desired speed until the same assumes the full line position shown, for ex ample, in. Fig. 12. When the feed chain is disconnected from the'member 35, the bar is preferably locked in position and the feed 1 we I said guide members atthe inner side thereof, thence about the feed operating member 85, and finally about the other of said guide members which serves to hold said flexible feeding member in engagement with said feed operating member. In cutting to ward the left, as shown in Fig. 13, the guide members and flexible feeding member will be oppositely disposed as will be clear from the drawings without furtherexplanation;

As above explained, the machine isadapted for either overcutting or undercutting,

depending upon the position in which the head 27 is attached to the casing 25. The arrangement of. the flexible feeding member with respect to the guide members 83 and 84 is also varied slightly for these different classes of work. In undercutting the forward portion of the flexible feeding member, or that through which the pull is transmitted to the machine, is passed first about the lower guide member84, or that nearest the kerf in a vertical direction, as indicated in Figs. 10 to 13, the rear end of said flexible feeding member after leaving the feed operating member 85 passing about the upper guide member 83. In overcutting, on the other hand, the forward or pulling end of theflexible feeding member is passed first about the'upper guide member'83, or that toward the right. For longwall cutting both guide members 83 and 84 will be swung outwardly, as-shown inFigs. 12 and 13,. while for room and pillar work, one of said members will be swung inwardly and the other outwardly, depending upon whether the machine is employed for overcutting or undercutting, as above explained.

In all of the cutting operations, it will, of course, be understood that the auxiliary guide member 17 5 is not used, the same preferably being removed from themachine. It

will. further be'understood that in all longwall operations whether overcutting or undercutting, the auxiliary guide member 86 is not used and may be removed from the machine or attached to the'head 27 in such a position as to be out of the way.

Fromthe foregoing, it will be seen that the invention provides a machine adapted for either overcutting or undercutting by either the longwall or the room and pillar method and capable of cutting in either direction and at a speed which is subject to considerable variation and which can be readily controlled, said machine also having provision whereby itis capable of loading itself upon a truck and having means for furnishing the necessary power to propel the truck when so loaded. It will also be seen that this wide adaptability of the machine is obtained by'means of relatively simple and compact feed actuating mechanism and by the use of only two regular guide members for the flexible feeding member and two auxillary guide members (one of which is used only in room and pillar cutting, and the other of which is used only in loading), said members being so mounted as to be transferable on the machine and connectible therewith at a variety of points in accordance with the requirements of theparticular feeding movements to be produced. These and other advantages of the invention will, however, be obvious to those skilled in the art without further explanation.

I Vhile I have herein shown and described in detail one form which the invention may assume in practice and several ways in which it may be used, it will be understood that the particular constructions, arrangements and uses described and shown have been chosen for illustrative purposes merely, and that the invention may be otherwise in full embodied and practiced without departing from its spirit or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

WVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by-Letters Patent is I I 1., In a mining machine, aframe having a forwardly extending mine bottom engaging portion, ahead detachably secured to said frame and overlying saidportion and adapted to be in partsupported thereon, cutting mechanism carried by said head, means permitting the disposition of said head in dif ferent positions with respect to said. frame whereby cutting in different planesis possible, and means carried by said frame. for

actuating said cutting mechanism. a

2. Ina mining machine, a frame having a forwardly extending mine bottom engaging portion, a head overlying said portion and, in part supported thereon, cutting mechanism carried by said head, means carried by said frame for actuating said cutting mechanism, and means synmietrica-lly disposed with respect to said actuating means for detachably 'connectingsaid headto said frame in different relative positions with respect to thevlatter. v

3. In a mining machine,ia.frame having a forwardly extending mine bottom engaging portion, a head overlying said portion and in partgsupported thereon, cutting mechanism carried by said head, means including a shaft carried by said frame for actuating said cut-ting mechanism, and means symmetrically disposed with. respect to said,

shaft for detachably connecting said head positions frame in different relative positions with respect to the latter, said cutting means being eccentrically disposed with respect to said actuating means. 7 v. v

5. In a mining machine, a frame having a forwardly extending bottom engaging portion, a head overlying said portion and detachably secured to said frame and further 1n part supported by said" forwardly extending portion and attachable to said frame in a plurality, of positions, and cutting mechanism carried by said head.

6. In a mining machine, a frame having aforwardly extending bottomv engaging portion, a head overlying. said portion and. detachbly secured to. said frame and attachable thereto in a. plurality of'positions,, said forwardly extending portion of said frame also operating to support said head, cutting mechanism carried by said head, means carried by said frame for actuatingsaid cutting mechanism, and means in said head for operatively connecting said actuating means and cutting mechanism and engageable with said actuating means in any position of said head. 1

7. The combination with a mining machine having a cutter bar having cutting means extending from end to end thereof and invertible at will into positions substantially in the plane of the mine bottom or in a high er plane, of bar supporting means presenting a forwardly extending portion constant- 1y connected to the machineand in either bar position underlying one end of the bar.

' 8. The combination with a mining machine having an elongated cutter bar pivoted adjacent one end for swinging movement 'about'an axis lying in a vertical plane transverse to said machine and invertible at will into positions substantially in the plane of the mine bottom or in a higher plane, of bar supporting means presenting a forwardly extending portion constantly connected to the machineand in either barposition underlying the bar pivot.

9. The combination with a mining machine having an elongated cutter bar invertible at will into positions in different planes and having cutting means extending from end toend thereof, of bar supporting means presenting a forwardly extending portion non-rotatively mounted on said machine and in either bar position underlying one end of said bar.

10. The combination with a mining machine having a cutter bar invertible at will into positions in diflerentplanes and having cutting means extending from end to end thereof, of bar supporting means presenting a forwardly extending portion constantly connected to said machine and in either bar position slidable on a mine bottom beneath one end of said bar.

11. The combination with a mining machine having a cutter bar invertible at Will into positions in different planesparallel to the mine bottom, said bar being provided with cutting means extending from end to end thereof, of bar supporting means forming a rigid support for one end of the bar constantly connected to the machine and in either position of the bar presenting a portion underlying the bar.

12. The combination with a mining machinehaving a cutter bar invertible at will into positions in different planes parallel to the mine bottom, of bar supporting means forming a rigid support for one end of the bar non-rotatably mounted on said machine and in either position of the bar presenting a portion slidable on the bottom beneath said end of thebarg 3 13. The combination with a mining ma chine slidable over the mine bottom during cutting and having a pivoted cutter bar invertible at will into positions in different elevations relative to the mine bottom, of a machine frame having a forwardly extend ing portion, and a rigid member coaxial "with the bar pivot supported at its opposite ends on said portion upon inversion of said bar and longitudinally removable in ferent positions of sa1d bar.

14. The combination wlth a machine havthe difing a cutter chain carrying cutter bar in vertible at will into positions in different elevations relative to a mine bottom and having a frame providing a bottom engag cutting and having a cutter bar invertible at will into positions in different horlzontal' planes, of cutter actuating and supporting means including three longitudinally ex tending frame portions 'forming between them journal supports for the cutter driving mechanism and a cuttings passage.

16. In a mining machine, a frame,'an invertible head thereon, 7 cutting; mechanism 7 carried by sa1d head, a bottom engaging shoe supporting said frame and extending beneath said head, and means for bracing.

said shoe and head in any position .of the latter.

17. In a mining machine, a frame, a head detachably secured to said frame and attachable thereto in eitherof two relatively inverted positions, cutting mechanism carriedby said head, a bottom engaging shoe supporting said frame and extending beneath said head, and means for connecting said shoe and head in either positionof the latter.

18. In a mining machine, a frame, an invertible head thereon, cutting mechanism carried by said head, a shoe supporting said frame and extending beneath said head, and a vertical stud for bracing said shoe and head and detachably secured thereto to permit inversion of said head.

,19. In a mining machine, a frame, an in-f vertible head thereon, cutting mechanism carriedby said head, a shoe supporting said frame and extending beneathvsaid head, a removable plate carried by said head, a stud for bracing said shoe and head and detachably connected to said shoe, and a stud carried by said plate and having threaded con nection with said first named stud.

20. In a mining machine, a frame, an invertible head thereon, cutting mechanism carried by said head, a shoe'supporting said frame and extending beneath said head, a'

stud for bracing said shoe and head, a removable plate carried by said head, a removable plate carried by said shoe, and studs carried by said plates respectively and having threaded engagement with the opposite ends of said first named stud.

- 21. In a mining machine, a frame, an invertible head thereon, cutting mechanism carried by said head, a shoe supporting said frame and extending beneath said head, a stud for bracing said shoe and head, a removable plate carried by said head, a removable plate carried by said shoe, and studs carried by said plates respectively and having threaded engagement with the opposite ends of said first named stud.

22. In a mining machine, a frame, an invertible head thereon, cutting mechanism carried by said head, a shoe supporting said frame and extending beneath said head, said head in one position being seated on said shoe, and means for bracing said shoe and head in another position of the latter.

23. In a mining machine, a frame, an invertible head thereon, cutting mechanism carried by said head, a shoe supporting said frame and extending beneath said head, said head in one position being seated on said shoe, a vertical stud for bracing said shoe and head, and means for detachably securing said stud to said shoe and head.

24. In a mining machine, a frame, a removable, invertible head thereon, cutting mechanism carried by said head, a shoe sup porting said frame and extending beneath the same, a removable plate carried by said shoe, a removable plate carried by said head and adapted to be seated on said first name plate when said head is in one position, a stud for bracing said shoe, means for detachably securing one end of said stud to said first named plate, and means for detachably connecting the opposite end of said stud to the other of said plates when said head is in its other position.

In a mining machine, a frame, a head carried thereby, cutting mechanism carried y said head and including a cutter chain sprocket journaled therein and having a bearing thereon, said cutting mechanism being disposable planes, and supplemental supporting means for said sprocket constantly connected to said frame.

26. In a mining machine, a frame having a forwardly extending, mine bottom engaging portion constantly connected thereto, a head detachably secured to said frame and portion and securable thereto in different relative positions, cutting mechanism carried by said head and portion and including rotating partsjournaled in said head and having a bearing thereon, and means carinvertibly' into different ried by said frame for actuating said cutting mechanism.

27. In a mining machine, a frame having a forwardly extending, mine bottomengaging portion, a head carried thereby and secured to said frame and portion and securable thereto indifferent relative positions, said head having a cylindrical boss, a-

cutter bar mounted to swing on said boss, a cutter chain carried by said bar, a cutter chain sprocket journaled in said boss, and a gearrjournaled in said boss and operatively connected to said sprocket.

28. In a mining machine, a frame, an invertible head thereon, a shoe supporting said frame and extending beneath said head, said head having a cylindrical boss, a. cutter bar mounted to swing on said boss, a cutter chain carried by said bar, a cutter chain sprocket journaled in said boss, a gear journaled in said boss and operatively connected to said sprocket, a vertical stud for bracing said shoe and head and extending coaxially through said boss, cutter chain sprocket, and gear, and means for detachably securing said stud to said shoe and head.

29. In a mining machine, a frame slidable over the mine bottomduring cutting and having a forwardly extending portion constantly connected thereto, a head carried thereby and securedto said frame and portion in different positions, and cutting mechanism carried by said head and including parts removable through the, walls thereof.

30. In a mining machine, the combination with a feed operating member, an internal gear secured in fixed angular relation to said feed operating member and rotatable therewith, a motor driven pinion, an internal gear rotatable thereby, and variable speed driving connections between said internal gears. r

31. In a mining machine, the combination with a feed operating member rotatable on a longitudinal axis, an internal gear secured in fixed angular relation to said feed operating' member and rotatable therewith, a motor driven pinion rotatable on a longitudinal axis, aninternal gear rotatable thereby, and variable speed driving connections between said internal gears."

32. In a mining machine, the combination with a feed operating member, an internal gear secured in fixed angular relation to said feed operating member and rotatable therewith, a motor driven pinion, an internal gear rotatable thereby, and variable speed driving connections between said internal gears including a friction clutch.

33. In a mining machine, the combination with a feed operating member, an internal gear secured in fixed angular relation to said feed operating member and rotatable therewith, a motor driven pinion, an internal gear rotatable thereby, "and variable speed driving connections between said 111- ternal gears including. a' friction clutch having: an element rotatable with said second mentioned internal gear.

34. In a mining machine the combination 'witha feed operating: member, an internal gear secured in fixed angular relation to said feed operating. member and rotatable therewith, a motordriven pinion, an interm1 gear rotatable thereby, and variable speed driving connections between said in ternal gears including a friction clutch and a cooperating clutch."

35. In a mining machine slidable' upon a mine bottom, the combination with a feed operating member rotatable upon an axis 36, In a miningmachine, the combination witlra feed operating member adapted to tooperate directly with flexible feeding means and rotatable on an axis extending longitudinally of the machine, of mechanism for driving the same including a motor,

and driving connections between said motor and said member selectively operative to drive said feed operating member at a plurality of predetermined slow speeds in one direction or at a plurality of predetermined fast speeds in the opposite direction, all with the motor rotatingin the same direction, one of said slow speeds and one of said fast speeds being substantially twice as fast as its fellow.

37. In a mining machine, the combination with a feed operating member adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means and rotatable on an axis ex'tending longitudinally of the machine, of mechanism for drivingthe same including a motor, and driving connections between said motor and said member selectively operative to drive said feed ope atin'g member at a plurality of predetermined slow speeds in one direction or at a plurality of predetermined fast speeds i in the-opposite direction, all withthe motor rotating in the same direction, and friction mechanism automatically operative to release each feed upon overload.

38. In a mining machine, the combination with a feed-operating member adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, of mechanism for driving the same including a. motor, and driving connections between neeaczse saidmotor and said" member selectively op-i erative to drive said feedoperatingmember at a plurality of predetermined slow speeds in one direction or at a plurality of predetermined fast speeds in the opposite direc tion, and a single frictional device automatically operative to release any of said feeds upon overload.

39. In a mining machine, a feed operating member adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, a motor driven pinion, an internal gear meshing therewith, a main transmission shaft connectible with said gear, a plurality of countershaftsoperatively connected to said transmission shaft, a pinion rotatable by one of saidcountershafts, and an internal gcar secured in fixed angular relation to and rotatable with said ion rotatable by one of said countershdfts,

and an internal gear secured in fixed angular relation to and rotatable with said feed operating member and meshing with said last mentioned pinion;

41. In a mining machine, a feed operating member adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, a motor driven pinion, an internal gear meshing therewith, a main transmission shaft connectible with said gear, a plurality of countershafts operatively connected to said transmission shaft and one connected to said feed operating member, and clutches controlling the con nection of said internal gear to said transmission shaft. and of said countershafts to one another.

42. In a mining machine, the combination with a feed operating member adaptedto cooperate directly with flexible feeding means and rotatable upon an extending longitudinally of the machine, of mean;-; for actuating the same including a tr:

mission shaft, a pair of aline'l' counter shafts, means for operatively connecting said countershafts with each other, means for operatively connecting one of said countershafts with said feed operatingmember, and means for operativraly connecting the other of said countershafts with said transmission shaft.

43. In a mlnmg machine, the combination with a feed operating member adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means and rotatable upon an axis extending longitudinally of the machine, of means for actuating the same including a transmission shaft, a pair of alined countershafts, direct and reversible driving connections between said countershafts, means for operatively connecting one of said countershafts with said feed operating member, and means for operatively connecting the other of said countershafts with said transmission shaft.

44. In a mining machine, the combination with a feed operating member adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means and rotatable upon an axis extending longitudinally of the machine, of means for actuating the same including a transmission shaft, a pair of alined countershafts, means for operatively connecting said countershafts with each other including a transmission element on one of said countershafts, a clutch member on said lastnamed countershaft and oppositely movable to engage alternatively said transmission element and the other of said conntershafts, means for operatively connecting one of said countershafts with said feed operating member, and means for operatively connecting the other of said countershafts with said transmission tween said transmission shaft and the other of said countershafts, and variable power transmitting connections between said countershafts.

46. In a mining machine, the combination with a feed operating member adapted to cooperate directl with flexible feeding means and rotatable upon an axis extending longitudinally of the machine, of means for actuating the same including a transmission shaft, a pair of alined counter-shafts, said transmission shaft and countershafts'being disposed with their axes in a common substantially vertical plane, means for operatively connecting saidcountershafts to each other, means for opcratively connecting one of said countershafts with said feed operating member, and means for operatively connecting the other of said 'counter'shafts with said transmission shaft.

47. In a mining machine having cutting mechanism projecting from one end thereof and a feed operating member adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means and rotatable on an axis extending longitudinally of the machine frame at the opposite end of the latter from said cutting mechanism and effective, on rotation to effect bodily rectilinear cutting feeding movement cooperate of said machine, means for actuating the feed operating member comprising a motor shaft, a parallel transmission shaft, means for yieldingly connecting said shafts, and positive driving connections from said transmission shaft to said feed operating member.

48. In a mining machine, the combination with cutting mechanism projecting from one end thereof. and a feed operating member adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means and rotatable on an axis extending longitudinally of the opposite end of said machine from said cutting mechanism, of means for actuating the same comprising a motor shaft, a parallel transmission shaft, means for yieldingly connecting said shafts, a countershaft, positive driving connections between said countershaft and feed operating member, and positive driving connections betweensaid countershaft and transmlssion shaft.

49. In a mining machine, the combinatlon with a feed operating member adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means and rotatable on a longitudinally extending axis, of means for actuating the same comprising a motor shaft, a transmission shaft, means for yieldingly connecting said shafts, a pair of alined countershafts, positive driving connections between said countersliafts, positive driving connections between one of said countershafts and said feed operating member, and positive driving connections between the other of said countershafts and said transmission shaft.

50. In a mining machine, the combination with a feed operating member adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means and rotatableon a longitudinally extending axis, of means for actuating the same comprising a motor shaft, a transmission shaft, means for yieldingly connecting said shafts, a counter-shaft, positive driving connections between said countershaft and. feed operating member, and positive variable speed driving connections between said countershaft and said transmission shaft.

51. In a mining machine, the combination with a feed operating member adapted to directly with flexible feeding means and rotatable on a longitudinally extending axis, of means for actuating the same comprising a motor shaft, a transmission shaft, means for yieldi-ngly connecting said shafts, a pair of alined countershafts, positive driving connections between one of said countershafts and said feed operating member, variable positive driving connections between the other of said countershafts and said transmission shaft, and variable positive driving connections between said countershafts.

52. In a mining machine slidable upon a mine bottom, a machine frame having projecting from one end thereof cutting mechanism and having at the opposite end thereof a feed operating member rotatable on an axis extending longitudinally of said frame, flexible feeding means adapted'to cooperate with said feed operating member and exlending in a direction forwardly of said machine during cutting, and means for actuating said feed operating member to cause the same to cooperate with said flexible feeding member to move the machine forwardly in cluding an internal. gear carried by said member and a pinion meshing with said gear.

58. In a mining machine, the combination with a feed operating member, of means for actuating the. same including a transmission shaft, a pair of alined countershafts, means for operatively connecting said countershafts with each other, an internal gear carried by said feed operating member, a pinion carried by one of said countershafts and meshing with said gear, and means for operatively connecting the other of said countershafts with said transmission shaft.

54. In a mining machine, the combination with a frame and arotatable feed operating memliier rotatable on an axis extending lon gitudinally of said. frame, of means for actuating said feedoperatingmember including an internal gear rotatable at an equal an,,. nlar rate with said member and housed in said frame and a pinion meshing with said gear. I

In a mining machine, the combination with a frame and a rotatable feed operating member having a bearing on said frame. of means for actuating said feed operating member including aninternal gear rotatable with said member and extending into said frame and a pinion meshing with said gee and driving gearing for said pinion including another internal gear.

56. In a mining machine, a feed operating member rotatable on an axis extending longitudinally of said machine and adapted to cooperate with a flexible feeding member in moving the machine bodily toward; a stationary point during cutting, and bearing means disposed at opposite ends of said member and carried by said machine including a horizontal. bracket permitting access to opposite surfaces of said member.

57. In a mining machine, a frame having a boss, a bracket secured to said frame, a feed operatingmcmber having a hub extending in opposite directions into said boss and bracket, antifriction bearings for said hub carried by said boss aud'bracket respectively, and cooperating flexible feeding member guiding means at opposite sides of said feed operating member.

58. In a mining machine, a frame having a boss, a bracket secured to said frame, a feed operating member having a'hub, antifriction bearings for said hub carried by said boss and bracket respectively, and means for actuating "aid feed operating member including an internal gear rotatable with said member and extending into said frame and a pinion carried. by said frame and meshing with said gear. I

5.9. In a mining machine, a feed operating member rotatable on an axis extending longitudinally of said machine, bearing means at the opposite ends of said member carried on said machine and including a bracket permitting access'to opposite surfaces of said member, and means for actuating said member including an internal gear rotatable therewith and a pinion meshing with said gear.

60; The combination with a mining machine truck having propelling means, of a mining machine transportable on said truck and having a rotary feed operatingmember rotatable on an axis extending longitudinally of said machine, means for actuating said feed operating member, and a member operated' by said actuating means and arranged coaxial with said feed operating member for driving said propelling means.

, 6 1. The combination with a mining machine truck having propelling means, of a mining machine transportable on said truck and having a feed operatingmember rotatable on an axis extendin longitudinally of said machine, an internal gear carried by said feed operating member, means for actuating said feed operating member including a pinion meshing with said internal gear, anda member operated by said-actuating means and arranged coaxially with said feed operating member and internal gear for driving said propelling means.

62. The combination with a mining machine truck having propelling means, of a mining machine transportable on said truck and having a frame, a feed operatingmember having a hub jour'naled in said frame, means for actuating said feed operating member, and a member ournaled in said hub and operated by said'actuating means for driving said propelling means.

63. The" combinationywith a miningmachine truck having propelling means, of a mining machine transportable on said truck and having a frame provided with a boss, a bracket secured to said frame, a. feed operating member having. a hub antifriction bearings for said hub carried by said boss and bracket respectively, means for actuating said feed operating member, and a memberoperated' by said actuating means for driving said propelling means, said member being .journaled in said hub and in the bearing carried by said bracket. V

64. In a' mining machine, a feed operating member rotatable on an axis extendinglongitudinally of the machine, and aplurality ill) of guide members rotatable on axes perpendicularly disposed relative to lines parallel to the axis of said member and disposed on opposite sides of a longitudinal plane extending through the axis of said feed operating member and perpendicularly disposed relative to the axes of said guiding members.

65. In a mining machine, a feed operating member rotatable on an axis extending longitudinally of the machine, and a plurality of guide members rotatable on axes perpendicularly disposed relative to lines parallel to the axisof said member and disposed on the same side of a vertical longitudinal plane extending through the axis of said feed operating member and respectively adapted to cooperate with the flexible feeding member at opposite sides of the point of cooperation with. such member of said feed operating member.

66. In a mining machine, a feed operating member rotatable on an axis extending longitudinally of the machine, and a plurality of guide members rotatable on axes per pendicularly disposed relative to lines parallel to the axis of said member and disposed on the same side of a vertical longitudinal plane extending through the axis of'said 'feed 0 eratin member and as to their 'uiding portions tangent to a common plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the feed operating member, one of said guide members being adapted to receive a flexible feeding member passing directly from said feed operating member.

67. In a mining machine, a feed operating member rotatable on an axis extending longitudinally of the machine, and a plurality of guide members rotatable on axes perpendicularly disposed relative to lines parallel to the axis of said member and disposed on the same side of a vertical longitudinal plane extending through the axis of said feed operating member, one of said guide members being adapted to receive a flexible feeding member passing directly from said feed operat-ing member and the axes of said guiding members being so disposable as to lie in a single upright tran verse plane.

68. In a mining machine, a feed operating member rotatable on an axis extending longitudinally of the machine, and a plurality of guide members rotatable on axes perpendicularly disposed relative to lines parallel to the axis of said member and disposed on the same side of a vertical longitudinal plane extending through the axis of said feed operating member, one of said guide members being adapted to receive aflexible feeding member passing directly from said feed operating member and the axes of said guiding members being so disposed as to lie in transverse upright planes disposed beyond the end of said feed operating member.

69. In a mining machine, feeding means comprising a flexible feeding member, a feed operating member cooperating therewith, and a plurality of transferable members for guiding said flexible feeding member, each transferable into a plurality of positions to direct said flexible member through a plurality of paths whereby said machine may be fed during cutting according either to the room and pillar or longwall methods and in opposite directions.

70. In a mining machine, feeding means. comprising a flexible feeding member, a feed operating member cooperating therewith, and a plurality of members for guiding said flexible feeding member, said guiding members being disposed at opposite ends of said machine and being attachable thereto at either side thereof to permit cutting in opposite directions.

71. In a mining machine, feeding means comprising a flexible feeding member, a feed operating member cooperating therewith,

and a plurality of members for guiding said flexible member, said guiding members being disposed on parallel axes and one at the front end and two at the rear end of said machine and each on the same side of a vertical plane including the axis of said feed operat ing member and all cooperating with said flexible feeding member simultaneously dur ing the feed of said machine.

72. In a mining machine, feeding means comprising a flexible feeding member, a feed operating member cooperating therewith, and a plurality ofmeinbers for guiding said flexible member, said guiding members being disposed one at the front end and two at the rear end of said machine and each on the same side of a vertical plane including the axis of said feed operating memher and transferable to the opposite side of operating member cooperating therewith and a plurality of members for guiding said flexible feeding member, said guiding members being attachable to said machine at either side thereof and comprising a member at the forward end of said machine and a pair of members at the rear of said machine,

the latter disposed respectively adjacent the top and bottom thereof.

75. In a mining machine, thecombination with a frame having lugs provided with apertures, of feeding means comprising a flexible feeding member, a feed operating member cooperating therewith, members for guiding" said flexible feeding member, telescoping studs engaging said apertures and by which said guiding members are carried, one of said studs having a groove, and a set screw carried by the other of SHlCl'SiLUClS and engaging said groove for rotatably securing said studs together.

76. In a mining machine, feeding means comprising a flexible feeding member, a feed operating member cooperating therewith and a plurality of transferable bodily movably mounted members for guiding said flexible feeding member disposable at will on opposite sides of a longitudinal vertical plane including the axis of said operating member.

77. In a mining machine, feeding means comprising a flexible feeding member, a feed operating member cooperating therewith, and a plurality of bodily movably mounted members for guiding said flexible feeding member, said guiding members being disposed respectively adjacent the top and'bot tom of said machine and being attachable thereto at either side thereof.

78. In a mining machine, feeding means comprisinga flexible feeding member, a feed operating member cooperating therewith, and a plurality of members each attachable to said machine in a plurality of positions thereon for guiding said flexible feeding member, said members when attached to said machine being mounted to swing about a common axis into a plurality of positions with respect to their positions of attachment. i

79. In a mining machine, the combination with a frame, of feeding means comprising a flexible feeding member, a feed operating member cooperating therewith, and a plu rality of sii'nultaneously operative detachably mounted members for guiding said flexible feeding member, said frame having a plurality of supports intended respectively for each of said guiding members and to which said guiding members are attachable to guide said flexible member in different positions of the-latter.

80. In a mining machine, feeding means including a flexible feeding member, a rotary feed operating member operatively engaging said flexible feeding member and rotating on an axis in a longitudinal vertical plane, and a plurality of rotary guide members on opposite sides of a longitudinal plane in cluding the axis of said feed operating inemher and adapted to effect guiding of said flexible feeding member, said feed operating member and guide members being so disposed that planes including the pitch circles of said guide members are substantially tangent to the pitch circle of said feed operating member at different points.

81. In a mining machine, feeding means including a flexible feeding member, a rotary feed operating member operatively engaging said flexible feeding member, and a plurality of transferable rotary guide members disposed at will in reverse relations to said. feed operating member and so disposed. in either position thereof that planes including the pitch circles of said' guiding members are substantially tangent to the pitch circle of said feed operating member.

82. Ina mining machine, feeding means including a flexible feeding member, a rotary feed operating member operatively engaging said flexible feeding member and so disposed that the plane of its pitch circle makes an angle with a horizontalplane, and a plurality of rotary guidemembers on op- 'posite sides of a longitudinal plane including the axis of said feed operating member and adapted to ellect guiding of said flexible feeding member, said feed operating member and guide members being so disposed that planes including the pitch circles of said guide men'ibers are substantially tangent to the pitch circle of said feed operating member at the top and bottom of the latter.

83. In a mining machine, feeding means including a flexible feeding member, a rotary feed operating member operativcly engaging said flexible feeding member, and a plurality of rotary guide members on opposite sides of a longitudinal plane including the axis of said feed operating member and adapted to effect guiding of said flexible feeding member, said guiding members bcing disposed respectively adjacent the top and bottom of said machine and being at tacliable thereto at either side thereof and said feed operating member and guide mem bers being so disposed that planes including the pitch circles of said guide members are substantially tangent to the pitch circle of said feed operating member.

8st. Ina mining machine, feeding means gaging said flexible feeding member and so disposed that the plane of its pitch circle makes an angle with a horizontal plane, and a plurality of coaxially disposed rotary guide members adapted to effect guiding of said flexible feeding member, said feed operating and guiding members being so disposed that planes including the pitch circles of the guide members are substantially tangent to the pitch circle of the feed operating member at the top and bottom of the latter.

86. In a mining machine, feeding means including a flexible feeding member, a. r0 tary feed operating member operatively en gaging said flexible feeding member, and a plurality of rotary guiding members attachable to said machine in a plurality of positions thereon and adapted to guide said flexible member, said guide members when attached to said machine being adapted to swing about a common axis into a plurality of positions with respect to their positions of attachment and said feed operating and guide members being so disposed that planes including the pitch circles of said guide members are substantially tangentto the pitch circle of said feed operating member.

87. In a mining machine, feeding means including a flexible feeding member, a rotary feed operating member operatively engaging said flexible feeding member, and a plurality of axially spaced rotary guide members adapted to cooperate with said.

flexible feeding member, said feed operating and guide members being so disposed that a plane including the pitch circle of said feed operating member is substantially tangent to the pitch circles of said guide me1nbers.

88. In a mining machine, feeding means including a flexible feeding member, a rotary feed operating member operatively engageable with said flexible feeding member, and a plurality of rotary guide members, said feed operating and guide members being so, disposed that planes including the pitch circles of said guide members are substantially tangent to the pitch circle of the feed operating member at different points and that a plane including the pitch circle of said feed operating member is substantially tan gent to the pitch circles of said guide me1nbars.

89. In a mining machine, feeding means ineluding a flexible feeding member, a rotat able feed operating member adapted to cooperate with said flexible feeding member, and a plurality of rotary guide members disposed one above the other and so disposable that their axes may lie on opposite sides of a plane including the pitch circle of said feed operating member.

90. In a mining machine, including a flexible feeding tary feed operating member feeding means member, a readapted to enage said flexible feeding member, and a lurality of axially spaced rotary guide members adapted to guide said flexible feeding member, said guiding members being so disposed relative to said feed operating member that a plane including the pitch circle of the latter is substantially tangent to the pitch circles of said guiding members and said guide members being disposable in positions at opposite sides of said plane and there preserving a tangential relationship thereto.

91. In a mining machine, feeding means including a flexible feeding member, a rotary feed operating member operatively engaging said flexible feeding member, and a plurality of rotary guide members adapted to guide saidflexible feeding member, said guide members being disposed respectively adj acent. the top and bottom of said machine and being attachable thereto at either side thereof and said guide members being also movable to positions at opposite'sides of a plane including the pitch circuit of said feed operating member.

92. In a mining machine, feeding means including-a flexible feeding member, a rotary feed operating member operatively engaging said flexible feeding member, and a plurality of rotary guide members adapted to guide said flexible feeding member, said guide members being so disposed relative to said feed operating member that planes lDClUCrlRg the pitch circles of said guide members are substantially tangent to the pitch circle of said feed operating member at different points and said guide members being movable to positions at opposite sides of a plane including the pitch circle ofsaid feed operating member.

93. In a mining machine, feeding mechanism comprising a flexible feeding member, a feed operating member cooperating there with and rotatable on an axis extending longitudina-lly of said machine, guide members adapted to receive said flexible member directly from said feed operating member and disposed on vertical axes, and an auxiliary guide member cooperating with said flexible member and with said first named guide members to load the machine and having its axis disposed in a vertical plane including the axis of said feed operating member.

9-l. In a mining machine, feeding mechanism comprising a flexible feeding member, a feed operating member cooperating there with and rotatable on an axis extending longitudinally of said machine, guide members adapted to receive said flexible member di rectly from said feed operating member and disposed on vertical axes, and an auxiliary guide member cooperating with said flexible member and with said first named guide members to load the machine and having its axis disposed in a vertical plane including ill) [iii

the axis of the feed operating member, said auxiliary member being rotatable on an axis parallel to the axes of said guiding members.

95. In a mining machine, feeding mechanism comprising a flexible feeding member, a feed operating member cooperating therewith and rotatable on an axis extending longitudinally of said machine, guide members eo'ope 'ating with said flexible feeding member during the mining operations and disposed on vertical axes, an auxiliary guide member cooperating with said flexible feeding member and with said first named guide niei-nbers to load themachine, and means for detachably connecting said last named guide member to said machine.

96. In a mining machine, the combination with a frame, of feeding mechanism comprising a flexible feeding member, a feed operating member cooperating therewith and rotatable on an axis extending longitudinally of said machine, guide members cooperating with said flexible feeding meniber during the mining operations and disposed on vertical axes, an auxiliary guide member cooperating with said flexible feeding member and with said first named guide members to load the machine, and an arm by which said last named guide member is carried, said arm having means for loosely engaging the frame.

97. In a mining machine, the combination with a frame, of feeding means comprising a flexible feeding member, a feed operating member cooperating therewith, a plurality of detachably mounted guide members cooperating with said flexible feeding member durin g the naming operations, said frame having a plurality of supports to which each of said guide members is selectively attachable, an

auxiliary guide member cooperating with said flexible feeding member to loadthe machine, and an army by which said last named guide member is carried, said arm having means for selective detachable engagement with said supports.

98. In a mining machine, feeding-mechanism comprising a flexible feeding member, a feed operating member cooperating therewith and rotatable on an axis extending longitiidinally of said machine. guide members cooperating with said flexible feeding member during themining operations and rotatable on vertical axes, and a swinging auxiliary guide member cooperating with said flexible feeding member to load the machine.

99 The combination with a mining ma chine slidable on a mine bottom and having flexible lateral feeding and machine guiding means including oppositely ext-ending flexible feeding portions acting on the opposite ends thereof, of means whereby the plane of operation of said flexible feeding means may be varied with respectto said machine ineluding a guiding element disposable at dif ferent "elevations abovethe mine bottom and disposed adjacent the forward end of the machine.

1.00. The conibmation with a mining machine slidable on a mine bottom having a cutter bar disposable in different elevations relative to the mine bottom without variation in the distance of. the most remote portion of said machinefrom the mine bottom and flexible lateral feeding means including oppositely extending flexible feeding portions acting on the opposite ends of said machine, of means whereby the plane of forward traction of said flexible feeding means may be maintained in the plane of said bar.

101. The combination with a mining machine slidable onv a mine bottom and having flexible lateral. feeding means including oppositely extending flexible feedingportions acting on the opposite ends thereof to effect feeding and control the angle to the face, of means whereby the plane of forward traction and the direction of feed of said flexible feeding means may be varied including a guiding means for the flexible feeding means disposable at different elevations above the bottom.

10:2. The combination with a mining inachineslidable on a mine bottom having a cutter bar disposable in different elevations relative to the mine bot-tom without variation in the distance of the most remote portion' of said machine from the mine bottom and flexible lateral feeding means includ ing oppositely extending flexible feeding portions acting on the opposite ends of said machine, of means whereby the plane of for ward traction and the direction of feed of said flexible feeding means may be varied.

103. The combination with a mining machine slidable on a mine bottom having a pivoted laterally disposable cutter bar operable in differentelevations relative to a mine bottom and flexible lateral feeding mechanism including a flexible feeding portion, of means whereby the lane of forward traction of said' feeding meeianism may be varied in different positions of said bar.

104. The combination with a mining ma chine slidable on a mine bottom having a pivoted laterally disposable cutter bar adjustable into different elevations relative to a mine. bottom and flcxible lateral feeding mechanism including, a flexible feeding portion, of means whereby the plane of forward traction and the direction of feed of said feeding mechanism may be adjusted in different positions of said. bar.

105. The combination with a mining ma chine slidable on its bottom on a mine bot tom and having a cutter bar disposable in different elevations relative to the mine bottom without change in elevation of the major 

